Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Q: Gurudev, Why are there differences between religions?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Religion has three components: symbols, customs and traditions, and values. As far as values are concerned, there is no difference, because all talk about oneness. Customs and symbols are all very different; they have to be, this is what makes the world beautiful, because God doesn’t like uniforms! Nature has been created with such diversity- so many flowers, animals, people. Diversity is the language of God. In India, God can have any number of names and forms, and they all point to one Divinity.So in one sense, there is difference, and in another sense there is unity.Wise ones celebrate diversity, fools fight over it.

Q: Gurudev, How do we know what is true love?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

How do we know false love, tell me? My dear! Love is love, you can’t call it is true or false. Don’t doubt love. We don’t doubt hate. What is the guarantee that people hate you? May be at that time they were angry! Love is our nature. Because of desires and greed our love is sometimes not expressed. It becomes hidden. There is no prani (living being) without priti (love). Prana (life-force energy) has come from love. Thousands of atoms together form the body. Without love, all these atoms would be separated and that is nothing but death. When the Prana loves the body it stays in the body, there is life. When that love ends, there is death. We should not mistake emotions for love. Love is our nature, know the difference.

Q: Gurudev, I want to serve you. Where do I go?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

There are so many opportunities here. Bad Antogast needs several people who would like to do some service.Come to the German Ashram.There are other places also.

Q: Gurudev, If love is all around us, why do we seek far and wide to find it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Because you don’t know it. Once you know it, you won’t search.

Q: Gurudev, I would like to bring some reformations and changes in my village. However, every time, I meet with so many obstacles and it is quite frustrating for me. What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Sanghe shakti kaliyuge. One or two people alone can't bring in a reform. A coming together is required. For that knowledge must dawn. So bring people to programs like this. Bring people together and do this work. What we do sometimes fails and if the failure repeats you can lose your courage. When we want to bring in reforms, even if we fail 10 times we should go ahead. We have to be so strong. Know that you will never be alone. Come together and work to increase awareness in society. Do satsangs. I will guide you constantly.

Q: Gurudev, Guruji, do you have any unfulfilled desires?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

(After a little pause) Yes, I want to see millions of people smiling and all these conflicts in the world to end. There should be no war. WAR itself means ‘Worst Act of Reason’. People who are involved in war give reasons to justify their actions but it is actually the worst act of reason. There is so much domestic violence in the world today. All this must stop. This can happen when people become more compassionate and understanding.

Q: Gurudev, Guruji, what is ‘moksha’*, and how to attain it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

How do you feel the day you have a holiday? That is a small glimpse of moksha. You also get this feeling when your exams are over, and you cast away your books and give a big relief sigh of’ Ha’! After travelling a long distance in the bus, when you get down at your destination and loosen up yourself, that is a sign of relief. Like this when you get full relief in life, when the mind is happy and contented, that is called ‘moksha’.

Q: Gurudev, Guruji, if human being knows that if one is born then he has to die, then why does he worry so much about death?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Well, there is lack of spiritual education, broader vision and knowledge of who one is. Ok, let me ask you all a question. You know, all those who have grown old don’t feel that they have grown old. How many of you feel this? (Many raised their hands). You are 50, 60 or 70 years old and you feel that everybody else has grown but you haven’t changed. You see your little 1- 2 year-old child has grown to 16 years but you don’t realize that you have also grown equally. You know, many times father and son, mother and daughter have this conflict because neither father nor mother think that they have grown older. It is the same problem with mother – in – law and daughter – in – law in India, perennial household word because you feel that you haven’t changed, you haven’t grown. This is because there is something deep inside you which never dies, which never grows old. Time doesn’t touch that aspect deep within you.

Q: Gurudev, I want to do a lot of work in society but I don’t know where to start, how to start?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

The seed is there and it will grow. You want to work for society, the seed will grow. Good. Let it grow. Satsang, sadhana will nurture this seed.

Q: Gurudev, Guruji, I did the course a few days ago, my experience was awesome. I am from Dhanbad in Jharkhand and I want a lot of people from Dhanbad to experience this. Also I want you to come there to address the youth and guide them on to the right path.